Luggage carrier



Feb. 13, 1934. J. RITTER, JR., .E.TAL

LUGGAGE CARRIER Y Filed Jari. 12, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS ATTORNEY.

Feb. 13, 1934. J. RITITER. JR., ETAL 1,947,227

' LUGGAGE CARRIER Filed Jan. '12, 1933 2 Sheets-sheaf 2 Patented 13, 1 934 I I 1 1,947,227 LUGGAGE CARRIER Julius Ritter, Jr., and William 0. Chesnut, Racine, Wis., assignors to Hartmann- Trunk Company, Racine, Wis.. a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 12, 1933. Serial No. 651,264

5 Claims. (Cl. 190-41) The present invention relates in general to im- To provide a relatively small container or housprovements in the construction of luggage caring having therein readily manipulable means for riers of the type wherein a plurality of garments storing a number of full length garments, while may be effectively packed and concealed. maintaining considerable free space for the re- 5 Generally defined, an object of the invention ception of other luggage. is to provide an improved luggage carrier which To provide an improved luggage carrier case is simple and compact in-construction, and which comprising hingedly connected main and cover is moreover highly efficient in operation. sections, wherein a plurality of garments may be It has heretofore been proposed, as shown and supported upon carrier bars mounted in a sup- 10 described in copending application Serial No.. porting bracket which isinturn mounted directly 587,324, filed January 18, 1932, to provide a lugin the cover section, and in which all of the gargage carrier consisting of hingedly connected ments may be compactly folded over a swinging main and cover sections, wherein a plurality of rod carried by a frame which is movable into and independent garment carrier bars were mounted out of the cover section and which serves to lock 15 inthe cover section and cooperated with the garthe bar supporting bracket in place when the ment folding rod of a pivoted frame to pack and mechanism is in loading position. to confine a number of garments within the To provide an improved luggage transporting cover section. In thisprior device the garment container adapted to snugly confine and to lock carrier bars were supported in the cover section a plurality of neatly folded garments into the 20 independently of each other and were locked in cover thereof so that the garments cannot become place by movement of the garment supporting disarranged or displaced during transportation frame into loading position. Because of the fact of the container. that the garment carrier bars were independently To provide an improved garment supporting supported in the cover section, it necessitated the frame structure having a folding rod which is 25 provision of independent retaining sockets for adapted to effectively fold and confine delicate each bar, and it was also impossible to simultanegarments without danger of creasing or of damously remove all of the bars as a unit. aging the garments coacting therewith.

It is a more specific object of the present in- To provide a wardrobe case and garment supvention to provide an improved luggage carrier porting means associated therewith, which are of 80 which obviates the defects of this prior device light weight but rigid and durable in construcand which provides garment supporting mechation, and which may be manufactured and sold nism of simpler and more compact construction at minimum cost. adapted to effectively confine a maximum number To provide an improved garment supporting of garments within a minimum space. bracket having a plurality of garment carrier bars 35 Other more sp c fic bJ'e C S 0f the invention detachably associated therewith in a manner tom y be defined as f011 0WSZ prevent the bars from accidentally becoming dis- To provide an improved garment support for lodged from th bracket,

lug a e ca i cases or the like. which may e To provide other improvements in the construcrea'dily applied to carrier case utilized to tion and mode of operation of garment support- Store one garments tfiherem m P compact ing mechanisms for wardrobe cases, whereby the manne? and wlthout undeslmbly Wnnklmg or efficiency of such mechanisms is enhanced to a o g i iitl e ai i gr sed wardrobe case of rela maximum while the mode of manipulation is tively light construction, wherein a plurality of slmphfied as much as 1305511016 45 independent garments may be neatly stored and locked within the case, and in which the several garments may be conveniently and independently inserted or removed.

To provide a new and useful garment supportbe apparent from the following detailed description.

Some of the novel features of luggage carrier construction disclosed but not specifically claimed 50 ing mechanism embodying a plurality of carrier herein form the Subject of the copending appli- 5 bars and a common Supporting bracket fo the cation hereinabove referred to, which (118010885 7 bars forming a unit which may be stored within garment Supporting mechanism Comprisng 31pma container, or removed from storage nd hung rality of garment carrier bars mounted in the upon a fixed support when the container is not cover section of the case and a ga folding Q 65 en route. frame cooperating with the bars to confine the 110 These and other objects and advantages will garments within the cover section and to simultaneously lock the bars in loaded position.

A clear conception of embodiments of the several features constituting the present invention and of the mode of constructing and of utilizing luggage carriers built in accordance therewith, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an open luggage carrier case showing the garment supporting frame swung over the main section of the case, preparatory to loading of the garment supporting mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the open luggage carrier case, likewise showing the garment supporting frame positioned preparatory to loading of the supporting mecha-- nism;

Fig. 3 is a similar vertical section through the open case, showing the garment supporting frame partially adjusted for confinement of the coacting garments within the cover section;

Fig. 4 is another similar section through the open case, showing a number of garments finally stored and confined within the cover section;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged front view of the removable garment supporting bracket or rack, showing the garment supporting bars detachably associated therewith;

Fig. 6 is a further enlarged end view of the bracket showing the bars therein;

Fig. 7 is a similarly enlarged opposite end view of the bracket and bars;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the main and cover sections of the case, showing an end view of one of the pivoting and confining sockets for the supporting frame and bar supporting bracket, showing the frame in position for the reception of garments during loading;

Fig. 9 is a similar view of the assemblage shown in Fig. 8, showing the garment supporting mechanism in finally loaded positon;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section through the cover of the case, showing a top view of the garment supporting mechanism with the frame in loading position and of modified construction;

Fig. 11 is a section through the folding rod of the modified supporting frame of Fig. 10, the section being taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a vertical section through the pivot portion of the garment supporting mechanism;

taken along the line 1212 of Fig. 8.

Although the invention has been shown and described herein as being specifically applied to a relatively small and light luggage carrier, it should be apparent that the novel features are more generally applicable to any type of luggage carrier, and it is not the intent to limit the invention by such specific disclosure.

The improved luggage carrier illustrated in the drawings comprises in general a main section 15 having a cover section 16 pivotally attached thereto by means of a hinge 1'7, and garment supporting mechanism of improved construction mounted entirely within the cover section 16. The main section may be provided with the usual carrying handle 18 and the cover section 16 may be swung into engagement with the main section 15 and locked thereto by means of the usual latches 19. The cover section 16 is held in substantially upright position when the main section 15 is disposed horizontally and the cover section 16 is swung open, by means of retainers 20 of ordinary construction.

The improved garment supporting mechanism comprises generally a garment supporting frame 21 swingably supported in sockets 22 fixedly mounted on the side walls of the cover section 16 near the main hinge 17 and having an integral transverse garment folding rod 23 remote from the sockets 22; and a plurality of similar garment carrier bars 24 detachably associated with a supporting bracket 25 which is in turn adapted to be detachably connected to the sockets 22.

The supporting frame 21 is shown in detail in Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive, and may be constructed of metal and of U-shaped form, and the pivoted ends of the sides of this frame are connected to the sockets 22 by means of pivots 26 and have lateral extensions 27 provided with slots 28 extending across the pivotal axis, these slots being spaced from the inner ends of the fixed pivots 26. The sockets 22 which are attached directly to the cover section 16, have integral wall portions 29 spaced from and extending parallel to the side walls of the cover section, and the lateral extensions 27 of the frame ends are disposed in close proximity to these socket wall portions 29. The wall portions 29 have slots 30 which register with the slots 28 when the frame 21 is swung into the position shown in Fig. 8, and also have circular openings 31 communicating with the slots 30 and at all times exposed to the inner portions of the slots 28. When the frame 21 is swung to the position indicated in Fig. 9, the slots 28, 30 are out of registry with each other and this disposition of the mechanism will be termed locking position. The rod 23 may be formed as a tubular rod 23 having elliptical cross section as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, and when such tubular rod 23 is utilized, it is preferable to provide the frame 21 with extensions 21 at the ends of the rod 23'. This tubular type of rod 23 may be rigidly attached to the sides of .the frame 21 in any suitable manner and may be polished to present a smooth and gradually curved garment engaging edge.

The garment supporting bracket 25 is shown in detail in Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive, and consists of a pair of spaced side walls 32, 33 rigidly interconnected by cross members 34. The side wall 32 of the bracket 25 has therein an elongated opening 35 having closed opposite ends, and the other side wall 33 has therein a similar opening 36 having one end closed and the other open. The opening 36 has a widened portion 37 near the open end thereof and the wall 33 has rounded projections 37' which form detents on the opposite sides of the main opening 36 as clearly shown in Fig. '7. The bracket side wall 33 also has an outwardly bent end portion 38 near the open end of the opening 36, the bending of this end portion 38 automatically providing an open end for the opening 36. Each of the bracket side walls 32, 33 is also provided with an integral lug 39, and these lugs are adapted to be inserted into the slots 30 of the pivot sockets 22 and to be rotated within the circular openings 31 as will be clearly apparent from Figs. 8 and 9. The bracket 25 may moreover be provided with an adjustable hanger hook 40 which normally lies against the members 34, but which may be adjusted to the dot and dash line position of Fig. 5 for the purpose of hanging the bracket 25 from a clothes hook or the like. The garment carrier bars which may be formed of wood, have reduced metal ends 41 adapted to coact with the bracket openings 35, 36 as clearly shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.

The luggage carrier may also be provided with a final garment confining flap 42 made of cloth, one end of which is permanently attached to the cover section 16 near the main hinge 17, and the opposite end of which is freely movable and has a catch 43 adjustably connected thereto. The catch 43 is cooperable with a hook 44 permanently attached to the swinging end of the cover section 16, in order to confine the loaded garments 45 within the cover section 16 as shown in Fig. 4. The main section 15 of the luggage carrier may also have stop blocks 46 secured to the inner portions of the side walls thereof in order to limit the forward and downward swing of the frame 23 as indicated in Fig. 2.

When it is desired to load the improved luggage carrier case with garments 45, the individual garments may first be folded over the carrier bars 24 which may then be inserted in the elongated openings 35, 36 of the bracket 25 in the manner indicated in Fig. 5, either while this bracket 25 is hanging on the hook 40, or while it is disposed as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. After the lugs 39 of the bracket 25 have been inserted within the slots 28, 30 and the garments 45 have been arranged as indicated in Fig. 2, the frame 21 may be swung upwardly away from the stop blocks 46 as in Fig. 3, whereupon the rod 23 becomes effective to fold the garments 45 midway between the bars 24 and the garment ends. This swinging of the frame 21 also causes the bracket 25 to swing and moves the retainer lugs 39 out of alinement with the slots 30, thereby automatically locking the bracket 25 within the sockets 22. The frame 21 may obviously be swimg entirely into the cover section 16 as in Figs. 4 and 9, whereupon the bracket end wall 33 coacts with the cover section to positively confine the bar ends 41 within the openings 35, 36. With the frame 21 swung entirely into the cover section 16, the flap 42 may be extended over the free ends of the garments and fastened in place by applying the adjustable catch 43 to the hook 44 and by pulling on the strap to which the catch 43 is adjustably attached, thus neatly and compactly loading the garments 45 within the cover section 16 and leaving the main section 15 free for the storage of other luggage. The luggage carrier may thereafter be closed and transported without danger of having the garments 45 disarranged.

The removal of one or more of the garments 45 may be just as readily efi'ected, by first removing the flap 42 and by subsequently returning the supporting mechanism and the garments 45 to the position shown in Fig. 1. When this is done, the bracket 25 is again automatically released and may be lifted bodily together with the bars 24 and the garments 45 associated therewith, from within the sockets 22 and away from the frame 21. Or, if so desired, the bracket 25 may be permitted to remain within the cover section 16, and the individual bars 24 removed therefrom. It is to be noted that the peculiar construction of the opening 36 with its widened portion 37 and the rounded projections 37', will effectively prevent the bars 24 from accidentally dropping out of the openings 35, 36, but thatthe detents adjoining the projections 37' do not interefere with the free intentional removal of the bars 24. This action of the detents in preventing accidental removal of the upper bar 24 is illustrated in Fig. '7, and is advantageous when the bracket 25 is removed from the sockets 22.

The improved construction of the frame 21 shown in Figs. 10 and 11, will prevent sharp creasing and possible cutting. of the garments 45 by virtue of the formation of the rod 23, and the extensions 21' will serve to prevent the garments from slipping 01f of the ends of the rod. The elliptical cross-section of the'rod 23' also stiifens the frame 21 thereby adding rigidity to the structure.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the invention provides simple, compact and readily manipulable means for permitting one or more full length garments to be effectively packed within a container of small size. The detachable mounting of the bracket 25 directly within the cover section 16 and the independent removability of the garment carrier bars 24, make the device flexible in use, and permit hanging of the garments when not en route. The frame 21 serves merely as a means for folding the garments during loading, and the flap 42 effectively finally confines the garments 45 and the loading mechanism, within the cover. When finally loaded, all elements of the structure are effectively locked in place, and the improvement has proven extremely efficientin commercial use. I

It should be understood that it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact details of construction herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:-

1. A luggage carrier comprising, hingedly connected main and cover sections, a frame pivotally mounted for swinging movement into and out of one of said sections, a bracket removably supported directly within said section, a plurality of removable garment carrier bars carried by said bracket, means for locking said bracket in its support by pivotal movement of said frame into said section, and means operable by the swinging movement of said frame for confining said garment bars on said bracket.

2. A luggage carrier comprising, hingedly connected main and cover sections, a frame having a garment folding rod movable along a fixed path into and out of said cover section, a bracket removably supported within said cover section, a plurality of removable garment carrier bars carried by said bracket, means for locking said porting member of the folding frame to support garments within the case, means on said bracket for removably holding said bars, and means on opposite sides of the cover section for removably holding said bracket in a position substantially parallel to the hinged connection between the sections whereby said bracket may be bodily removed from the case with the plurality of bars independently of the folding frame.

4. A luggage carrier comprising a main section and a cover section hingedly connected thereto, a garment folding frame'having its inner ends pivotally connected to one of said sections adjacent the hinged connection between the sections and having a transverse garment supporting member spaced from said inner ends, an elongated bracket, a plurality of elongated garment carrier bars cooperable with the garment supporting member of the folding frame to support garments within the case, means on said bracket for removably holding said bars, and means on opposite sides of the cover section for removably holding said bracket in a position substantially parallel to the hinged connection between the sections whereby said bracket may be bodily removed from the case with the plurality of bars independently of the folding frame, said bracket being rotatable on its holding means whereby when the frame with garments loaded thereon is moved on its pivotal connection it will maintain a fixed relationship between the bracket and the frame and eliminate friction on the garments.

5. A luggage carrier comprising a main section and a cover sect-ion hingedly connected thereto,

a garment folding frame having its inner ends pivotally connected to one of said sections adjacent the hinged connection between the sections and having a transverse garment supporting member spaced from said inner ends, an elongated bracket, a plurality of elongated garment carrier bars cooperable with the garment supporting member of the folding frame to support garments within the case, means on said bracket for removably holding said bars, and means on opposite sides of the cover section for removably holding said bracket in a position substantially parallel to the hinged connection between the sections whereby said bracket may be bodily removed from the case with the plurality of bars independently of the folding frame, said bracket being rotatable on its holding means whereby when the frame with garments loaded thereon is moved on its pivotal connection it will simultaneously lock said plurality of bars on said bracket and maintain a fixed, relationship between the bracket and the frame so that friction on the garments is eliminated.

JULIUS RITTER, JR. WILLIAM C. CHESNUT. 

